by John Marshall Harlan

“ The general authority 'to establish postoffices' does not itself, or without more, necessarily imply authority to bind the United States by a contract to lease or purchase a postoffice building, although an appropriation of money to pay for the rent of a postoffice building at a named place might give authority to the postmaster general to lease such building in that locality as he deemed proper for the service, always keeping within the amount so appropriated. ”

“ Section 1. That the court of claims shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine the following matters: The contention of the government as to the jurisdiction of this court is not well founded. Congress did not intend that cases brought under this act in a district or circuit court of the United States should be brought here by appeal only. Throughout all the provisions relating to actions commenced in those courts, there is shown a purpose to preserve the distinction between cases at law, cases in equity, and cases in admiralty. ”

“ That in the trial of any suit brought under any of the provisions of this act, no person shall be excluded as a witness because he is a party to or interested in said suit; and any plaintiff or party in interest may be examined as a witness on the part of the government. ”